We just witnessed a remarkable outpouring of opposition to the GOP-controlled Senate’s efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s radio show and podcast, we’ll speak with one of the faith leaders who threw their considerable moral capital behind the effort to defend healthcare for all Americans.

Host Rev. Welton Gaddy will be joined by Sister Simone Campbell, the original Nun on the Bus and executive director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. They’ll take a look back at an eventful week that concluded with a moment worthy of The West Wing or House of Cards, when an ailing John McCain cast the decisive vote against the repeal effort. Don’t miss their conversation about the drama – and lessons – of this history in the making.

One of the painful realities about our current political situation is the relentless marginalization of minority groups. Ever since the 2016 election took shape, exclusionary, hateful and even dangerous rhetoric has flowed like toxic sludge across our land. Welton will explore the impact on American Muslims with Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life senior researcher Basheer Mohamed, the lead researcher for a study whose title says it all: U.S. Muslims Concerned About Their Place in Society, but Continue to Believe in the American Dream.

Finally, Welton will be joined by journalist Patti Miller to discuss a recent article by two Vatican insiders that harshly criticized the American Religious Right, calling out “political and religious fundamentalism.” Patti explored the topic in a recent Religion Dispatches piece and will explain the significance of this critique of the theocratic impulse in American society.